Cinnamon Granola {Gluten Free Granola Recipe}

Name: Cinnamon Granola - Basic Gluten Free Granola Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups gluten free rolled oats (* see note); 1/2 cup walnuts; 1/2 cup pecans; 1/3 cup sunflower seeds; 1/4 cup chia seeds; 1/3 cup pepitas; 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1/3 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup melted coconut oil (* see note); 1/2 cup raisins; 1/2 cup shredded coconut

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Cinnamon granola is a staple in our house. With a gluten free granola recipe like this, you can eat it for breakfast, snacks, or even dessert. Our family puts cinnamon granola on yogurt, ice cream, and fruit crisps. We even eat it right off the baking tray!

A brown ceramic jar filled with granola.

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Why This Granola is Great:
Granola Ingredients:
Use Certified Gluten Free Oats!
Substitutions:
Tips For Sucess:
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Mix-In Ideas:
Recipe FAQ:
How To Eat Granola:
More Recipes with Gluten Free Oats:
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💬 Comments

Have you tried to make your own granola from scratch yet? Once you make homemade granola, it is very hard to go back to expensive store-bought granola!

You will also love all the fun things you can do with granola...like make granola tart crusts! Adding gluten free granola on top of yogurt is so good for breakfast!

Once you know the formula and the granola contents, you can make any flavor of homemade gluten free granola you like. Give this gluten free apple granola recipe a try too!

If you love granola as much as we do, but you need to follow a paleo, grain-free, or refined sugar diet, give this delicious Paleo Granola recipe a try! It has all of the granola flavors you love, but it is grain-free and refined sugar-free too!

Why This Granola is Great:

The biggest and best reason to make this homemade gluten free granola is that it is so easy to customize. You can add anything you like and omit anything you don't like.
It tastes delicious and is so much cheaper than store-bought granola!
You can flavor granola in a lot of fun ways!
It is easy to store in the pantry.

If you love granola, you will love my homemade Gluten Free Granola Bars too!

Granola Ingredients:

Here are all the granola ingredients you need to make gluten-free granola from scratch. I include lists of substitutions and mix-in ideas so you can customize this gluten free granola recipe any way you like!

Top Pick

Quaker Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, 24 oz Resealable Bags (Pack of 4)

There are a few brands of certified gluten free oats, and they are all good. I mostly buy this because you get four bags for a lower price.

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Gluten Free Rolled Oats - It is critical to use certified gluten free rolled oats if you are Celiac. Cross-contamination runs high in regular oats.
Walnuts - Or any other nuts you like
Sunflower Seeds - raw unsalted. You can use any nuts; just be sure to check for shells. I also love to add pepitas.
Chia Seeds - This adds even more protein to this healthy gluten free snack.
Maple Syrup - Not only is maple syrup a great sweetener, but the stickiness helps hold your granola together.
Coconut Oil - I use coconut oil, but you can use another light oil.
Raisins - You can use any dried fruits.

Use Certified Gluten Free Oats!

It is important to know that when you are on a gluten free diet, it is critical to ensure that the oats you use are certified gluten free. Cross-contamination is a huge issue for oats, and I don’t want anyone to get sick!!

Our family loves Quaker GF Rolled Oats and Bob’s Red Mill GF Rolled Oats. Both are certified gluten-free; nobody in our family has ever reacted to them.

A special note is that Trader Joe's rolled oats are labeled gluten free. The Gluten Free Watchdog, an independent testing company, has found Trader Joe's Oats to be over the 20ppm rule for gluten free products. I would not recommend eating this brand if you are gluten free.

Substitutions:

If you don't have some of the ingredients, don't worry. Here are some easy recipe substitution swaps you can use:

You can substitute honey or agave nectar for maple syrup.
If you can't have coconut, use another light oil like avocado.

Tips For Sucess:

You do not want the granola piled thickly on the baking sheet. You want it in a thin layer. If you have too much granola, bake it in two rounds.
When you stir the granola part through the baking time, stir it gently so you don't remove clumps.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300º F. I also have used my convection toaster oven to make granola!

Gluten free oats and other ingredients in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add seeds, oats, ground cinnamon, and nuts to a large mixing bowl. Mix it well.

Step 3: Mix the syrup and coconut oil in the bowl. (Melt the coconut oil if you notice it is hard.)

Step 4: Use a large spoon to spread out the granola mixture onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. I really recommend lining your baking sheet because the granola can stick to the pan surface.

Using a spoon to dump the granola mixture on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Step 4: Bake your gluten free granola for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir the granola. This will help your granola bake evenly through. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Mix-In Ideas:

Homemade vegan gluten free granola is easy to customize to your favorite flavors and add-ins. You can add any of the following to my cinnamon granola recipe:

Nuts - chopped walnuts, pecans, or pistachios are delicious options for cinnamon granola.
Seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds.
Dried fruit like raisins, cherries, and apricots.
Unsweetened coconut
Chia seeds
Seasonings like pumpkin spice or even savory spices like chili powder or curry powder will kick up the flavor of any gluten free granola recipe!

Recipe FAQ:

Is granola considered a healthy snack?

In most cases, granola is considered a healthy snack. It is full of nuts, seeds, and oats. This recipe has no added refined sugars, which makes it healthier than most store-bought granola brands.

How do you keep the granola from easily falling apart?

The main binding ingredient in granola, either honey or maple syrup, is sticky, and it helps hold your granola together.

How do you store granola?

Store this granola in an airtight container in your pantry. It will keep fresh for up to 2 weeks in your pantry. I like to store my granola in mason jars.

Does granola go bad?

Homemade granola and store-bought granola can go bad if they sit for too long. Ways to know if your granola went bad is to smell it. If the oats start to get soft and have a slightly sour smell, there is a good chance the granola is going bad. Nuts and seeds in granola can also go rancid, making an off smell.

Homemade gluten free granola on a baking sheet.

How To Eat Granola:

Our family puts this homemade granola on everything!! They even eat it right off the baking tray! Here are some of our favorite ways to eat granola

This is an easy granola for yogurt; sprinkle it on!
Spoon into ice cream
Top fruit crisps
Mix in a bowl with milk for cereal.
Use as a trail mix on a hike.

I used coconut oil in my recipe, but you can also use other light oils like avocado oil. This dairy-free and vegan recipe makes it a great allergy-friendly snack! You may also like this Protein Granola.